Chicken-coop



(No Model.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. R. HOFF.

CHICKEN COOP.

Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 2.

W. R. HOFF.

CHICKEN COOP.

No. 587,551. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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IVILLIAM R. I-IOFF, OF RIDER, MARYLAND.

CHICKEN-COOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,551, dated August 3, 189'?.

Application filed December 21, 1896. Serial No. 616,529. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

` Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. HOFF, of Rider, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Chicken-(loops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in chicken-coops especially designed for the housing of hens having a brood of chicks, as will hereinafter fully appeal'.

In the further description of the said invention which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure l is an exterior front View of the improved chicken-coop. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the same. Fig. 3 is an exterior side view of Fig. 1,looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, except that a feedchamber, hereinafter described, is removed. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the coop with the roofs of the coop proper and the feedchamber removed. Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the feed-chamber alone.

Referring now lto the drawings, A is the coop proper, formed of the walls a, b, c, and d, united by the corner-posts e, the loose or removable bottom f, and the removable ventilated roof g. The bottom is made removable, so that in dry weather the hen may stand on the earth, which is more natural and conducive to her health.

In the front wall a is the main opening 71, for the entrance and exit of the hen when she is allowed to range abroad. Above and below the main opening 71, are grooved strips j, between which is slid the door B. This door is slatted near one end to provide ventilation for the coop when the door is closed. A pin k serves to stop the door when the slatted portion thereof is fair or registers with the openings 7L. Vhen the pin 7.: is taken out, the door may be slid farther in or until stopped by the block m. IVhen the door is in this second position, the opening h is entirely closed and entrance of rain to the coop prevented.

C is the feedchamber, consisting of a removable box having wedge-shaped pieces n, adapted to slide in ways o, affixed to one side of the coop. These ways consist of strips having grooves of the same size as the wedgeshaped pieces on the feed-chamber. By this construction it will be seen that the feedchamber may be removed entirely from the coop proper for cleaning purposes.

The feed-chamber is covered by a removable glazed roof D', having a strip 1J on its under side to engage with the front of the chamber to keep it in place.

The object of the glazed roof of the feedchamber is to admit light and sunshine, which are absolutely necessary to the health of the chicks, and at the same time protect them from cold and rain.

The feed-chamber is in communication with the interior of the coop by means of the hole q, through which the-chicks may readily pass and repass, and also a second hole r, which .is only large enough for the hen to thrust her head through to reach the feed placed for her use in a feed-hopper, hereinafter described. It is not intended that the chicks shall pass through this second hole.

The feed-hopper for the chicks is formed of the back s, the upper edge of which is beveled to sh ed water, the sides t, which extend to the glazed roof, the inclined front u, the lower edge of which is raised a short distance from the floor to allow of the falling out of a p01'- tion of the feed, and the stop-strip t' to prevent the discharged feed being scratched from the hopper by the chicks to the main portion of the feed-chamber.

The feed-hopper as described occupies longitudinally the whole space between the holes q and r.

The feed-hopper for the hen is formed of a portion of the rear or back piece s, which reaches to the lower edge of the hole r, and the front piece a'. The hen has access to it only through the hole r.

E is a water-pan inserted through a hole in the end of the feed-chamber at which is placed the feed for the hen. It is accessible to the hen and also to the chicks when they are in the feed-chamber. It may be iilled when removed froln the coop or while in position by first lifting oif the root' of the feed-chamber.

The coop described is preferably made of rough or unplaned boards, so as to hold whitewash, which keeps the coop free from vermin with which chickens are infested, and it af- IOO fords complete protection for the chickens from their nocturnal enemies, While they have ample room for exercise within the coop and the feed-chamber.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a chicken-coop, the combination of' the coop proper With a removable feed-chamber applied to the outside of the said coop the two apartments being in communication by means of holes, two feed-hoppers in the said chamber, onel of which is inaccessible to the hen in the coop, substantially as specified.

2. In a ehieken-eoop, the coop proper having a main entrance-opening and a sliding door therefor, one portion of the said door being slotted and the remaining portion imperforate, combined with stops on the door whereby either the slotted or the imperforate portion may be made to register with the said entrance-opening, substantially as specified. 2o

WILLIAM R. HOFF. lVitnesses:

WM. T. HOWARD, DANL. FISHER. 

